19 U.S. Code § 1595a - Forfeitures and other penalties

Except as specified in subsection (b) or (c) ofsection
1594 of this title, every vessel, vehicle, animal, aircraft, or other thing used in, to aid in, or to facilitate, by obtaining information or in any other way, the importation, bringing in, unlading, landing, removal, concealing, harboring, or subsequent transportation of any article which is being or has been introduced, or attempted to be introduced, into the United States contrary to law, whether upon such vessel, vehicle, animal, aircraft, or other thing or otherwise, may be seized and forfeited together with its tackle, apparel, furniture, harness, or equipment.

(b) Penalty for aiding unlawful importation

Every person who directs, assists financially or otherwise, or is in any way concerned in any unlawful activity mentioned in the preceding subsection shall be liable to a penalty equal to the value of the article or articles introduced or attempted to be introduced.

(c) Merchandise introduced contrary to law

Merchandise which is introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law shall be treated as follows:

(1)The merchandise shall be seized and forfeited if it—

(A)is stolen, smuggled, or clandestinely imported or introduced;

(B)is a controlled substance, as defined in the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), and is not imported in accordance with applicable law;

(C)is a contraband article, as defined in section
80302 of title
49; or

(D)is a plastic explosive, as defined in section
841(q) of title
18, which does not contain a detection agent, as defined in section 841(p) of such title.

(2)The merchandise may be seized and forfeited if—

(A)its importation or entry is subject to any restriction or prohibition which is imposed by law relating to health, safety, or conservation and the merchandise is not in compliance with the applicable rule, regulation, or statute;

(B)its importation or entry requires a license, permit or other authorization of an agency of the United States Government and the merchandise is not accompanied by such license, permit, or authorization;

(C)it is merchandise or packaging in which copyright, trademark, or trade name protection violations are involved (including, but not limited to, violations of section 1124, 1125, or 1127 oftitle
15, section
506 of title 17, or section
2318 or
2320 of title
18);

(D)it is trade dress merchandise involved in the violation of a court order citing section
1125 of title
15;

(E)it is merchandise which is marked intentionally in violation of section
1304 of this title; or

(F)it is merchandise for which the importer has received written notices that previous importations of identical merchandise from the same supplier were found to have been marked in violation of section
1304 of this title.

(3)If the importation or entry of the merchandise is subject to quantitative restrictions requiring a visa, permit, license, or other similar document, or stamp from the United States Government or from a foreign government or issuing authority pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, the merchandise shall be subject to detention in accordance with section
1499 of this title unless the appropriate visa, license, permit, or similar document or stamp is presented to the Customs Service; but if the visa, permit, license, or similar document or stamp which is presented in connection with the importation or entry of the merchandise is counterfeit, the merchandise may be seized and forfeited.

(4)If the merchandise is imported or introduced contrary to a provision of law which governs the classification or value of merchandise and there are no issues as to the admissibility of the merchandise into the United States, it shall not be seized except in accordance with section
1592 of this title.

(5)In any case where the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise are required or authorized by this section, the Secretary may—

(B)permit the exportation of the merchandise, unless its release would adversely affect health, safety, or conservation or be in contravention of a bilateral or multilateral agreement or treaty.

(d) Merchandise exported contrary to law

Merchandise exported or sent from the United States or attempted to be exported or sent from the United States contrary to law, or the proceeds or value thereof, and property used to facilitate the exporting or sending of such merchandise, the attempted exporting or sending of such merchandise, or the receipt, purchase, transportation, concealment, or sale of such merchandise prior to exportation shall be seized and forfeited to the United States.

The Controlled Substances Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B), is title II of Pub. L. 91–513, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1242, as amended, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 801 et seq.) of chapter
13 of Title
21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
801 of Title
21 and Tables.

Codification

In subsec. (c)(1)(C), “section
80302 of title
49” substituted for “section 1 of the Act of August 9, 1939 (49 App. U.S.C. 781)” on authority of Pub. L. 103–272, § 6(b),July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 110–403, which directed amendment of section 596(c)(2)(c) of the Tariff Act of 1950 by striking out “or 509”, was executed by striking out “or 509” after “506” in subsec. (c)(2)(C) of this section, which is section 596 of the Tariff Act of 1930, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–182amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “Any merchandise that is introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law (other than in violation of section
1592 of this title) may be seized and forfeited.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–132effective 1 year after Apr. 24, 1996, see section 607 ofPub. L. 104–132, set out as a note under section
841 of Title
18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections
203(1),
551(d),
552(d), and
557 of Title
6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section
542 of Title
6.